# Tavily Search Results: Dusty

**Query:** Latest US extreme weather  
**Topic:** news  
**Results:** 5  
**Date:** 2026-04-24 12:06:59

---

## 1. Record US drought sparks worries about fires, water supply and food prices - AP News

**URL:** [https://apnews.com/article/drought-us-food-prices-wildfire-water-supply-3625f832e5122c988904fc66d39906f7](https://apnews.com/article/drought-us-food-prices-wildfire-water-supply-3625f832e5122c988904fc66d39906f7)  
**Score:** 0.9236

### Summary

Yale Climate Connections meteorologist Jeff Masters said his biggest concern is what drought will do to agriculture and then food prices. If America has a poor crop year because of the drought, it could be a global problem. A strong natural El Nino weather oscillation is predicted, which often reduces crop yield in other places across the globe, such as India.

UCLA’s Williams said the drought and hotter weather are driven by both natural variability and human-caused climate change with randomness a slightly bigger factor.

“All weather is now affected by climate change,” Arizona’s Jacobs said. “There is no such thing as weather that’s divorced from climate trends. But this extreme event is extreme in the way that we’ve been expecting: extreme heat waves, intense drought.” [...] Drought in the contiguous United States has reached record levels for this time of year, weather data shows. Meteorologists said it’s a bad sign for the upcoming wildfire season, food prices and western water issues.

More than 61% of the Lower 48 states is in moderate to exceptional drought — including 97% of the Southeast and two-thirds of the West — according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. It’s the highest levels for this time of year since the drought monitor began in 2000.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s comprehensive Palmer Drought Severity Index not only hit its highest level for March since records started in 1895, but last month was the third-driest month recorded regardless of time of year. It trailed only the famed Dust Bowl months of July and August 1934. [...] Because of record heat, much of the West has had exceptionally low levels of snow in the first few months of the year, which is usually how the region stores water for the summer. A different drought — connected to the jet stream keeping storms further north — has put the South from Texas all the way to the East Coast into a separate drought that just happens to coincide with what’s going on in the West, said Brian Fuchs, a climatologist with the National Drought Mitigation Center.

It would take 19 inches of rain in one month to break the drought in eastern Texas and more than a foot of rain to solve the deficit for most of the Southeast, NOAA calculated.

Related Stories

Years of drought has major energy port of Corpus Christi, Texas, wrestling with water crisis

5 MIN READ

 34

### Full Content

* [World](https://apnews.com/world-news) 

  [Iran war](https://apnews.com/hub/iran) [Russia-Ukraine war](https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine) [Español](https://apnews.com/hub/noticias) [China](https://apnews.com/hub/china) [Asia Pacific](https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific) [Latin America](https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america) [Europe](https://apnews.com/hub/europe) [Africa](https://apnews.com/hub/africa)

  TOP STORIES

  + [Iranian gunboats fire on tanker in Strait of Hormuz as Iran reimposes restrictions](https://apnews.com/article/us-iran-war-israel-hormuz-18-april-2026-ab475cb979825b956a10d60103026b37)
  + [A fragile calm in Lebanon as a US-brokered truce holds and families head home](https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-israel-hezbollah-ceasefire-united-states-e0412bb734d09aef492051c1730b5821)
  + [EU officials in Hungary to discuss unlocking billions of euros held while Orbán was in charge](https://apnews.com/article/hungary-eu-unlock-funds-orban-5a208f4094d4d66a47de9fc10b9d194f)

  [The Morning Wire

  Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day.](/newsletters?id=Morning+Wire+Subscribers) [The Afternoon Wire

  Get caught up on what you may have missed throughout the day.](/newsletters?id=Afternoon+Wire)

  [See All Newsletters](/newsletters)
* [U.S.](https://apnews.com/us-news) 

  SECTIONS

  [Immigration](https://apnews.com/hub/immigration) [Weather](https://apnews.com/hub/weather) [Education](https://apnews.com/education) [Transportation](https://apnews.com/us-news/transportation) [Abortion](https://apnews.com/hub/abortion) [LGBTQ+](https://apnews.com/hub/lgbtq) [Notable Deaths](https://apnews.com/hub/obituaries)

  TOP STORIES

  + [Patients and dental community mourn Dr. Cerina Fairfax, killed by Virginia's ex-lieutenant governor](https://apnews.com/article/virginia-justin-cerina-fairfax-death-802965d14f3dffa70b1974cfa8d78a17)
  + [Prosecutors say makeup, wigs helped former Alabama tackle impersonate NFL players in $20M fraud](https://apnews.com/article/nfl-alabama-disguise-fraud-wigs-22b915201bf523037c31a27f1bdd5dec)
  + [Transgender athlete focuses on what may be her last track season as Supreme Court ruling looms](https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-transgender-athletes-3121b7b76c44d4973015c3b7ed52a65a)

  Newsletters

  [The Morning Wire

  Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day.](/newsletters?id=Morning+Wire+Subscribers)

  [See All Newsletters](/newsletters)

  AP QUIZZES

  [Test Your News I.Q. — take today’s quiz](/quizzes)
* [Politics](https://apnews.com/politics) 

  SECTIONS

  [2026 Elections](https://apnews.com/hub/elections) [Election Results](https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/) [Election calendar](https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/calendar/) [White House](https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump) [Congress](https://apnews.com/hub/congress) [Supreme Court](https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court) [The latest AP-NORC polls](https://apnews.com/projects/polling-tracker/) [Ground Game](https://apnews.com/hub/ground-game)

  TOP STORIES

  + [Trump's lawyers are in talks with the IRS to resolve president's $10B lawsuit](https://apnews.com/article/trump-treasury-irs-lawsuit-tax-whistleblower-c710244db618b066f3070a65e75820a5)
  + [The Supreme Court hands a win to oil and gas companies fighting environmental lawsuits in Louisiana](https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-environmental-oil-gas-companies-louisiana-8928e73be9545de69089b0e578b1b8d2)
  + [Judge sides with Arizona election official in ruling that has implications for midterms voting](https://apnews.com/article/arizona-maricopa-county-recorder-lawsuit-elections-887c01d8c5b723b8a76cc274f4796975)

  Newsletters

  [Ground Game

  Exclusive insights and key stories from the world of politics.](/newsletters?id=Ground_Game)

  [See All Newsletters](/newsletters)
* [Sports](https://apnews.com/sports) 

  SECTIONS

  [NBA](https://apnews.com/hub/nba) [MLB](https://apnews.com/hub/mlb) [NFL](https://apnews.com/hub/nfl) [Golf](https://apnews.com/hub/golf) [Soccer](https://apnews.com/hub/soccer) [NHL](https://apnews.com/hub/nhl) [Auto Racing](https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing) [AP Top 25 College Football Poll](https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll)

  TOP STORIES

  + [Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe are breaking up and phasing out their podcast](https://apnews.com/article/sue-bird-megan-rapinoe-breakup-podcast-4653e0ae13410fafe04612f11af363a8)
  + [Garret Anderson, the talented outfielder and Angels career hits leader, dies at 53](https://apnews.com/article/garret-anderson-dies-5129ae839e84c676dfb38c4a6a65197e)
  + [Oscar Schmidt, Basketball Hall of Famer from Brazil, dies at 68](https://apnews.com/article/oscar-schmidt-dies-95a479e36c285f6d93158b5373359163)

  Newsletters

  [AP Top 25 Poll Alerts

  Get email alerts for every college football Top 25 Poll release.](/newsletters?id=AP_CFB_Top_25_Poll_Alerts) [The Sports Wire

  Your home base for in-de

*[Content truncated...]*

---

## 2. As the planet warms, scientists burn homes to figure out how to best protect them in wildfires - AP News

**URL:** [https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-wildfire-testing-homes-a7c768e84a499d7e51be160f51739dbf](https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-wildfire-testing-homes-a7c768e84a499d7e51be160f51739dbf)  
**Score:** 0.7138

### Summary

Climate change is intensifying and extending fire seasons across the U.S. and a growing population puts densely packed neighborhoods into fire-threatened areas. In the past three years, massive and devastating wildfires hit California, Maui in Hawaii and the North and South Carolina mountains.

Drought across much of the United States — especially in the West and Southeast — is at record severe levels for this time of year. Add to that record heat and unheard of levels of low moisture in the West for the first three months of 2026 and it looks like this upcoming fire season will be extraordinarily bad, unless late spring or early summer rain somehow bails out the country, said UCLA climate and fire scientist Park Williams.

## Test fires lead to building changes [...] From 2016 to 2025, wildfires in the United States on average burned an area the size of Massachusetts each year, slightly more than 11,000 square miles (28,500 square kilometers). That’s 2.6 times the average burn area of the 1980s, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Canada’s land burned on average for the last 10 years is 2.8 times more than during the 1980s, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.

In the United States, wildfires have caused an average of $17.7 billion a year in damage since 2020, according to statistics kept by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the nonprofit Climate Central.

### Full Content

* [World](https://apnews.com/world-news) 

  [Iran war](https://apnews.com/hub/iran) [Russia-Ukraine war](https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine) [Español](https://apnews.com/hub/noticias) [China](https://apnews.com/hub/china) [Asia Pacific](https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific) [Latin America](https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america) [Europe](https://apnews.com/hub/europe) [Africa](https://apnews.com/hub/africa)

  TOP STORIES

  + [Driven by the pressures of war, Iran gives its field commanders more power over militias in Iraq](https://apnews.com/article/iraq-militias-iran-war-c2fce96e2769bc8b3be43a729da5517b)
  + [LIVE US and Iran signal they will return to Pakistan for ceasefire talks, officials say](https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-04-21-2026)
  + [Gunman shoots several tourists at historic pyramids in Mexico, killing a Canadian](https://apnews.com/article/shooting-teotihuacuan-pyramid-canadian-killed-cfb0ee81bf45ab5df335a17363631296)

  [The Morning Wire

  Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day.](/newsletters?id=Morning+Wire+Subscribers) [The Afternoon Wire

  Get caught up on what you may have missed throughout the day.](/newsletters?id=Afternoon+Wire)

  [See All Newsletters](/newsletters)
* [U.S.](https://apnews.com/us-news) 

  SECTIONS

  [Immigration](https://apnews.com/hub/immigration) [Weather](https://apnews.com/hub/weather) [Education](https://apnews.com/education) [Transportation](https://apnews.com/us-news/transportation) [Abortion](https://apnews.com/hub/abortion) [LGBTQ+](https://apnews.com/hub/lgbtq) [Notable Deaths](https://apnews.com/hub/obituaries)

  TOP STORIES

  + [2 killed, 5 injured as planned fight between teens turns into deadly shooting at North Carolina park](https://apnews.com/article/winston-salem-north-carolina-park-shooting-8036b934a84c4ba5fba4988a0220ff3c)
  + [The Onion launches new bid to take over Alex Jones' Infowars and turn it into a parody platform](https://apnews.com/article/alex-jones-infowars-onion-sandy-hook-f0e523468af6811f9634c75ae76f605f)
  + [A criminal sentence for OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma clears the way for completing its settlement](https://apnews.com/article/purdue-pharma-guilty-plea-sentencing-oxycontin-opioids-def8261eef8a6bfa23bb4aaa591314f8)

  Newsletters

  [The Morning Wire

  Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day.](/newsletters?id=Morning+Wire+Subscribers)

  [See All Newsletters](/newsletters)

  AP QUIZZES

  [Test Your News I.Q. — take today’s quiz](/quizzes)
* [Politics](https://apnews.com/politics) 

  SECTIONS

  [2026 Elections](https://apnews.com/hub/elections) [Election Results](https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/) [Election calendar](https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/calendar/) [White House](https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump) [Congress](https://apnews.com/hub/congress) [Supreme Court](https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court) [The latest AP-NORC polls](https://apnews.com/projects/polling-tracker/) [Ground Game](https://apnews.com/hub/ground-game)

  TOP STORIES

  + [Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is leaving Trump's Cabinet after abuse of power allegations](https://apnews.com/article/lori-chavez-deremer-resigns-trump-cabinet-926a5d655890fe5ec348cbf959233481)
  + [FBI Director Kash Patel sues The Atlantic for article that alleged excessive drinking](https://apnews.com/article/kash-patel-atlantic-lawsuit-fbi-2e1e898c33d3afc12421010f519c7aac)
  + [Witnesses subpoenaed to testify before DC grand jury in John Brennan investigation, AP sources say](https://apnews.com/article/justice-department-brennan-russia-269b28a3e795a3f00359176ac799fa7f)

  Newsletters

  [Ground Game

  Exclusive insights and key stories from the world of politics.](/newsletters?id=Ground_Game)

  [See All Newsletters](/newsletters)
* [Sports](https://apnews.com/sports) 

  SECTIONS

  [NBA](https://apnews.com/hub/nba) [MLB](https://apnews.com/hub/mlb) [NFL](https://apnews.com/hub/nfl) [Golf](https://apnews.com/hub/golf) [Soccer](https://apnews.com/hub/soccer) [NHL](https://apnews.com/hub/nhl) [Auto Racing](https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing) [AP Top 25 College Football Poll](https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll)

  TOP STORIES

  + [Former first daughter Chelsea Clinton completes Boston Marathon, Bill and Hillary meet her at finish](https://apnews.com/article/boston-marathon-chelsea-clinton-bill-hillary-0200a2e4e38e4a4c6ee54f88a898ecc9)
  + [Blue Jays bus from Phoenix to Southern California after their charter plane is grounded](https://apnews.com/article/blue-jays-plane-grounded-bus-187a8903ceaa74895eea77c59f0cfe56)
  + [Defending champion John Korir breaks Boston Marathon record and Sharon Lokedi also repeats](https://apnews.com/article/boston-marathon-5a1c7ad49573bf15475f3544490f79a9)

  Newsletters

  [AP Top 25 Poll Alerts

  Get email alerts for every college football Top 25 Poll release.](/newsletters?id=AP_CFB_Top_25_Poll_Alerts) [The Sports Wi

*[Content truncated...]*

---

## 3. Severe Weather, Tornado Threat, Returns To Plains, Including Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas Into This Weekend - The Weather Channel

**URL:** [https://weather.com/storms/tornado/news/2026-04-22-severe-weather-tornadoes-plains-texas-oklahoma-kansas-forecast](https://weather.com/storms/tornado/news/2026-04-22-severe-weather-tornadoes-plains-texas-oklahoma-kansas-forecast)  
**Score:** 0.6132

### Summary

Last Friday alone, there were 94 tornado reports among the over 500 severe weather reports.

In all, there were over 1,300 reports of severe weather in the U.S. from last Monday through last Friday, including 152 reports of tornadoes, 532 reports of hail and 642 reports of thunderstorm wind damage or high wind gusts.

As you can see, some of the same areas that are under the risk of severe weather ahead are areas that have already been hit hard by severe weather last week.

Make sure you have multiple ways to receive alerts, should severe weather strike.

Jennifer Gray is a weather and climate writer for weather.com. She has been covering some of the world's biggest weather and climate stories for the last two decades.

## Check This Out, Too [...] While some details are still not clear this far in advance, here is our latest forecast for each day of this latest siege of severe weather.

(MORE: Severe Weather Safety Tips)

## Wednesday

Only isolated severe thunderstorms are expected in the High Plains from western Texas to South Dakota, as well as parts of Indiana and Ohio.

Strong wind gusts and hail are the main concerns.

## Thursday

Scattered severe storms are expected in the afternoon and evening from Minnesota to Oklahoma, possibly into parts of north Texas.

Hail, possibly larger than golf balls, strong wind gusts and a few tornadoes are possible.

## Friday

Scattered severe storms are possible from northeast Texas to the Mid-South region, both in the morning, then again in the afternoon. [...] Skip to Main ContentAccessibility Help

Advertisement

Advertisement

### Tornado Central

# Severe Weather, Tornado Threat, Returns To Plains, Including Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas Into This Weekend

## We had a break for a few days. Now, severe weather is returning to the nation's mid-section and will last through Monday. We have the latest forecast details you need.

#### ByJennifer Gray, and Jonathan Erdman

#### 3 hours ago

Where Storms Could Impact Thursday, Friday Plans

Severe weather is back in play over the Plains and will continue each day through Monday with a threat of tornadoes, hail and damaging winds from Texas to parts of the Northern Plains, then into parts of the Mississippi Valley.

### Full Content

[Skip to Main Content](#MainContent)[Accessibility Help](https://www.essentialaccessibility.com/the-weather-channel?utm_source=theweatherchannelhomepage&utm_medium=iconlarge&utm_term=eachannelpage&utm_content=header&utm_campaign=theweatherchannel)

Advertisement

Advertisement

### [Tornado Central](/storms/tornado)

# Severe Weather, Tornado Threat, Returns To Plains, Including Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas Into This Weekend

## We had a break for a few days. Now, severe weather is returning to the nation's mid-section and will last through Monday. We have the latest forecast details you need.

#### By[Jennifer Gray](/bios/jennifer-gray), and [Jonathan Erdman](/bios/jonathan-erdman)

#### 3 hours ago

Where Storms Could Impact Thursday, Friday Plans

Severe weather is back in play over the Plains and will continue each day through Monday with a threat of tornadoes, hail and damaging winds from Texas to parts of the Northern Plains, then into parts of the Mississippi Valley.

While some details are still not clear this far in advance, here is our latest forecast for each day of this latest siege of severe weather.

(**MORE:** [**Severe Weather Safety Tips**](https://weather.com/safety/tornado/news/2026-03-02-meteorologist-severe-weather-tips-tornado-safety))

## Wednesday

Only isolated severe thunderstorms are expected in the High Plains from western Texas to South Dakota, as well as parts of Indiana and Ohio.

Strong wind gusts and hail are the main concerns.

## Thursday

Scattered severe storms are expected in the afternoon and evening from Minnesota to Oklahoma, possibly into parts of north Texas.

Hail, possibly larger than golf balls, strong wind gusts and a few tornadoes are possible.

## Friday

Scattered severe storms are possible from northeast Texas to the Mid-South region, both in the morning, then again in the afternoon.

Damaging wind gusts and large hail are the main threats Friday in the areas shown below.

## Weekend Through Monday

Advertisement

A potentially more serious severe weather threat looms in the Plains this weekend.

Saturday and Sunday, a threat of [supercell thunderstorms](https://weather.com/science/weather-explainers/news/2025-04-29-supercell-thunderstorm-explainer) is in play in the central and Southern Plains from parts of Texas to Oklahoma, Kansas, western Missouri, western Arkansas and possibly parts of Nebraska.

With enough warm, humid air and strong wind shear in place, these supercells could spawn tornadoes, in addition to very large hail and damaging wind gusts.

On Monday, this severe threat could spread to the Mid-South and possibly lower Ohio Valley.

## Last Week's Siege

This small breather early this week is welcomed after a [busy stretch last week](https://weather.com/news/weather/news/2026-04-18-midwest-tornado-outbreak-lena-rochester-marion-damage).

Last Friday alone, there were 94 tornado reports among the over 500 severe weather reports.

In all, there were over 1,300 reports of severe weather in the U.S. from last Monday through last Friday, including 152 reports of tornadoes, 532 reports of hail and 642 reports of thunderstorm wind damage or high wind gusts.

As you can see, some of the same areas that are under the risk of severe weather ahead are areas that have already been hit hard by severe weather last week.

Make sure you have [multiple ways to receive alerts](https://weather.com/safety/tornado/news/2026-03-02-meteorologist-severe-weather-tips-tornado-safety), should severe weather strike.

[*Jennifer Gray*](https://weather.com/bios/jennifer-gray) *is a weather and climate writer for weather.com. She has been covering some of the world's biggest weather and climate stories for the last two decades.*

[## Check This Out, Too](/news)

[What To Know (And What To Do) About Springtime Bugs Targeting Your Home](/home-garden/news/2026-04-16-spring-bugs-ants-termites-wasps-ticks)

[The Weather Channel's New Home & Garden Forecast: Your Personal Gardening Assistant](/home-garden/news/2026-04-16-home-garden-forecast-personalized-planting-guide)

[The Spring Bug Invasion You Didn't Sign Up For](/home-garden/video/spring-bug-invasion)

[Meteorologist Reveals Simple Home Cooling Hacks](/home-garden/video/warm-weather-home-cooling-tips)

[## We Love Our Critters](/news)

[Sunrise Salutation: See An Egret’s Solo Dance At Dawn](/news/trending/video/egret-greets-dawn-along-florida-shore)

[Rare Gorilla Twins Spark Hope In Congo’s Virunga Park](/science/nature/video/rare-twin-mountain-gorilla-births-virunga-national-park)

[Spring Cleaning To Set Up Better Habits For You And Your Pet](/pets/video/spring-cleaning-dog-pets-collars-leashes-supplies)

[Puddles Of Pure Joy: Watch This Dog Play After The Rain](/pets/video/pure-puppy-joy-dog-plays-in-rainy-field)

Advertisement

---

## 4. New study finds 'alarming' high flood risk for 17 million Americans on Atlantic and Gulf coasts - AP News

**URL:** [https://apnews.com/article/flood-climate-change-risk-883b15d4d6ff11ee66ae9dd46ef43bce](https://apnews.com/article/flood-climate-change-risk-883b15d4d6ff11ee66ae9dd46ef43bce)  
**Score:** 0.2393

### Summary

The authors looked at all sizes of flooding and examined separately what FEMA considers the most extreme, which are the top 1% of events. The study found 4.3 million people along the coasts to be at the highest level of risk of extreme flooding, but 20.5 million to be at high risk, the second highest level.

They found a lot of vulnerability, highlighting eight different cities from Houston, which flooded in 2017’s Hurricane Harvey, to New York, which was inundated in 2012’s Superstorm Sandy.

Related Stories

More confusion looms over Strait of Hormuz after Iran attacks three ships near waterway

4 MIN READ

Federal appeals court blocks California law requiring federal agents to wear identification

1 MIN READ [...] SETH BORENSTEIN

Borenstein is an Associated Press science writer, covering climate change, disasters, physics and other science topics. He is based in Washington, D.C.

twitter   mailto [...] WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 17 million people along the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts are at the highest risk of being affected by flooding, with New York and New Orleans standing out, according to one of the most comprehensive studies ever of flood risk.

Researchers at the University of Alabama used 16 different factors including the geographic hazards, the population and infrastructure exposed and the vulnerability of people living there. They then brought in past damages from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s database and applied three different artificial intelligence tools to figure out flood risks from Texas to Maine, calculating that 17.5 million people were at “very high” risk and an additional 17 million were at “high” risk, the next level.

### Full Content

* [World](https://apnews.com/world-news) 

  [Iran war](https://apnews.com/hub/iran) [Russia-Ukraine war](https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine) [Español](https://apnews.com/hub/noticias) [China](https://apnews.com/hub/china) [Asia Pacific](https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific) [Latin America](https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america) [Europe](https://apnews.com/hub/europe) [Africa](https://apnews.com/hub/africa)

  TOP STORIES

  + [LIVE Iran says it has yet to decide whether to join a new round of peace talks with the US](https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-04-22-2026)
  + [Iran fires on 3 ships in the Strait of Hormuz as US maintains blockade and diplomacy stalls](https://apnews.com/article/us-iran-war-hormuz-israel-pakistan-ceasefire-april-22-2026-267230f7f32b436822484479313840f7)
  + [Migrant caravan leaves southern Mexican city but many are no longer aiming for the US border](https://apnews.com/article/migrant-caravan-haitians-us-border-cities-12826eaa5cdab8d41d6f43fa41850d9f)

  [The Morning Wire

  Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day.](/newsletters?id=Morning+Wire+Subscribers) [The Afternoon Wire

  Get caught up on what you may have missed throughout the day.](/newsletters?id=Afternoon+Wire)

  [See All Newsletters](/newsletters)
* [U.S.](https://apnews.com/us-news) 

  SECTIONS

  [Immigration](https://apnews.com/hub/immigration) [Weather](https://apnews.com/hub/weather) [Education](https://apnews.com/education) [Transportation](https://apnews.com/us-news/transportation) [Abortion](https://apnews.com/hub/abortion) [LGBTQ+](https://apnews.com/hub/lgbtq) [Notable Deaths](https://apnews.com/hub/obituaries)

  TOP STORIES

  + [ICE detains the wife of an Army sergeant in Texas as military family leniency wanes](https://apnews.com/article/texas-army-soldier-wife-detained-ice-3ce1b8b2d18e3ce1c1d1c2cc5e88087d)
  + [Rex Heuermann told ex-wife he murdered Gilgo Beach victims at family's home, documentary reveals](https://apnews.com/article/gilgo-beach-ny-serial-killings-rex-heuermann-8637d665e2d8aad2129f27a86ec306ee)
  + [What to know about the Southern Poverty Law Center](https://apnews.com/article/southern-poverty-law-center-civil-rights-8e89883257af70bf153b7b044acd76f0)

  Newsletters

  [The Morning Wire

  Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day.](/newsletters?id=Morning+Wire+Subscribers)

  [See All Newsletters](/newsletters)

  AP QUIZZES

  [Test Your News I.Q. — take today’s quiz](/quizzes)
* [Politics](https://apnews.com/politics) 

  SECTIONS

  [2026 Elections](https://apnews.com/hub/elections) [Election Results](https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/) [Election calendar](https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/calendar/) [White House](https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump) [Congress](https://apnews.com/hub/congress) [Supreme Court](https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court) [The latest AP-NORC polls](https://apnews.com/projects/polling-tracker/) [Ground Game](https://apnews.com/hub/ground-game)

  TOP STORIES

  + [In reversal, Justice Department withdraws subpoenas in John Brennan investigation, AP sources say](https://apnews.com/article/justice-department-cia-brennan-investigation-russia-trump-e6f29e0e084c72bb54de74466b3d4c5d)
  + [Trump's approval on economy falls in AP-NORC poll, showing new warning signs for president](https://apnews.com/article/trump-approval-iran-economy-cost-of-living-poll-fff492898cc8ff34e11df90ec4837a79)
  + [RFK Jr. goes before the Senate. One lawmaker's competing loyalties will be on display](https://apnews.com/article/bill-cassidy-rfk-jr-trump-vaccines-health-de23656aac2f41ec592c5243d83333b0)

  Newsletters

  [Ground Game

  Exclusive insights and key stories from the world of politics.](/newsletters?id=Ground_Game)

  [See All Newsletters](/newsletters)
* [Sports](https://apnews.com/sports) 

  SECTIONS

  [NBA](https://apnews.com/hub/nba) [MLB](https://apnews.com/hub/mlb) [NFL](https://apnews.com/hub/nfl) [Golf](https://apnews.com/hub/golf) [Soccer](https://apnews.com/hub/soccer) [NHL](https://apnews.com/hub/nhl) [Auto Racing](https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing) [AP Top 25 College Football Poll](https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll)

  TOP STORIES

  + [Mike Vrabel says he's had difficult conversations after publication of photos with NFL reporter](https://apnews.com/article/mike-vrabel-dianna-russini-patriots-nfl-f14287cb770c548420e33844a9a2c9f9)
  + [Victor Wembanyama has a concussion after falling face-first to court in loss to Blazers](https://apnews.com/article/spurs-victor-wembanyama-injury-playoffs-trail-blazers-a85e3c12a201e603eb8d521c42b1227b)
  + [Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan resigns after 6 seasons](https://apnews.com/article/chicago-bulls-donovan-9f5dbf49d62028d6dd7d3b9099305844)

  Newsletters

  [AP Top 25 Poll Alerts

  Get email alerts for every college football Top 25 Poll release.](/newsletters?id=AP_CFB_Top_25_Poll_Alerts) [The Sports Wire

  Your ho

*[Content truncated...]*

---

## 5. Severe Weather, Including Threat Of Strong Tornadoes And Flooding Rain, Forecast Friday In Plains, Midwest - The Weather Channel

**URL:** [https://weather.com/storms/severe/news/2026-04-16-severe-weather-tornadoes-hail-plains-midwest-plains](https://weather.com/storms/severe/news/2026-04-16-severe-weather-tornadoes-hail-plains-midwest-plains)  
**Score:** 0.1767

### Summary

Skip to Main ContentAccessibility Help

Advertisement

Advertisement

### Severe Weather

# Severe Weather, Including Threat Of Strong Tornadoes And Flooding Rain, Forecast Friday In Plains, Midwest

## It's been a siege of severe weather this week. Another rash of storms is likely in some of the same areas hit earlier. Our latest forecast shows where tornadoes, hail and flooding rain could happen again.

#### ByJonathan Erdman

#### 2 hours ago

When Severe Weather Could Interrupt Friday Plans

## Happening Now

We already have had severe t-storms this morning in parts of Minnesota with quarter size hail reported in Kasota and New Ulm. The maps below show the current radar, along with any watches or warnings currently in effect.

## Severe Forecast

Friday [...] Gaylord, Michigan, not only topped its record wet April not even halfway through the month (8.25 inches), but also smashed its record wet spring (14.46 inches) just halfway through, as well.

Both Alpena (2.24 inches) and Houghton Lake (2.97 inches), Michigan, also had their wettest April day on record last Sunday.

Tuesday, a strong tornado destroyed a home near Union City, Wisconsin. The preliminary survey came back that this tornado was an EF3 with estimated peak winds of 140 mph. It was the strongest April tornado in Wisconsin in 15 years.

Another tornado confirmed by radar took multiple roofs off a commercial facility and damaged a church in the northwest Milwaukee suburb of Sussex and Lisbon. That tornado was rated an EF2. [...] By this evening, one or more squall lines of severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and embedded tornadoes are likely, especially in the darker shaded areas in the maps below. These winds are capable of knocking down trees, possibly onto homes and vehicles, and power outages.

(MORE: How To Stay Safe In Severe Weather | Underrated Falling Tree Danger)

Saturday

There may still be at least some isolated to scattered severe thunderstorms ahead of a cold front Saturday in the eastern Great Lakes and Ohio Valley.

But we're not expecting this activity to be nearly as widespread as Friday.

Fortunately, the nation should get at least a three-day break from severe weather as the cold front sweeps off the East Coast Sunday.

(MAPS: 7-Day US Rain/Snow Forecasts)

## Flood Forecast

### Full Content

[Skip to Main Content](#MainContent)[Accessibility Help](https://www.essentialaccessibility.com/the-weather-channel?utm_source=theweatherchannelhomepage&utm_medium=iconlarge&utm_term=eachannelpage&utm_content=header&utm_campaign=theweatherchannel)

Advertisement

Advertisement

### [Severe Weather](/storms/severe)

# Severe Weather, Including Threat Of Strong Tornadoes And Flooding Rain, Forecast Friday In Plains, Midwest

## It's been a siege of severe weather this week. Another rash of storms is likely in some of the same areas hit earlier. Our latest forecast shows where tornadoes, hail and flooding rain could happen again.

#### By[Jonathan Erdman](/bios/jonathan-erdman)

#### 2 hours ago

When Severe Weather Could Interrupt Friday Plans

## Happening Now

We already have had severe t-storms this morning in parts of Minnesota with quarter size hail reported in Kasota and New Ulm. The maps below show the current radar, along with any watches or warnings currently in effect.

## Severe Forecast

***Friday***

Unfortunately, a more serious threat of severe thunderstorms is in play Friday. And once again, it's from the Southern Plains to the upper Mississippi Valley.

Strong tornadoes — possibly as strong as EF3 — could develop in [supercell](https://weather.com/science/weather-explainers/news/2025-04-29-supercell-thunderstorm-explainer) thunderstorms by this afternoon in parts of eastern Iowa, northwestern Illinois and western Wisconsin. A few strong tornadoes are also possible this afternoon and early evening farther south ahead of the cold front from much of northern and western Missouri to eastern and southern Kansas, northern and western Oklahoma.

By this evening, one or more [squall lines](https://weather.com/storms/tornado/news/2025-02-28-squall-line-danger-severe-weather-tornado-wind-rain-lightning) of severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and embedded tornadoes are likely, especially in the darker shaded areas in the maps below. These winds are capable of knocking down trees, possibly onto homes and vehicles, and power outages.

(**MORE:** [**How To Stay Safe In Severe Weather**](https://weather.com/safety/tornado/news/2026-03-02-meteorologist-severe-weather-tips-tornado-safety) | [**Underrated Falling Tree Danger**](https://weather.com/science/weather-explainers/news/2026-04-03-falling-trees-high-winds-us-deaths-injuries))

***Saturday***

There may still be at least some isolated to scattered severe thunderstorms ahead of a cold front Saturday in the eastern Great Lakes and Ohio Valley.

But we're not expecting this activity to be nearly as widespread as Friday.

Fortunately, the nation should get at least a three-day break from severe weather as the cold front sweeps off the East Coast Sunday.

(**MAPS:** [**7-Day US Rain/Snow Forecasts**](https://weather.com/maps/planner))

## Flood Forecast

The combination of previous rounds of heavy rain and, in some areas, melting snow has already triggered serious flooding in parts of the western Great Lakes.

Some stretches of rivers in Michigan and Wisconsin are either [in or forecast to crest in major flood stage](https://water.noaa.gov/#@=-81.7670761,43.5029371,5.272553&b=topographic&g=obsFcst,1!1!0!0!0!0!1!0!0!0!1!1!0!0!0!0!0!0!0!0,0.5,1!1!1!1!0,0,0,true&ab=0,0,#D94B4A,1,1,1,#cccccc,1,0,0,#B243B1,1,0,0,#98E09A,1,false&a=hydrologic,0.35,false&s=0,0,0.9,0.9,false&n=false,#72afe9,0.9,0,0.9,0,0.9,false&p=false,0.75,0,7,0,1,2026,4,15,0,false&d=0,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,#006EFF,1,#006EFF,1,#006EFF,false&q=).

Flood watches and flood warnings continue for the areas below.

We expect a swath from eastern Kansas and northern Oklahoma to the interior Northeast to pick up another 1-inch-plus of rainfall through Saturday.

Where multiple rounds of thunderstorms or clusters of storms occur, locally heavier rainfall is expected. And that could lead to dangerous flash flooding, particularly in urban areas and those areas whose ground is already saturated.

## Why The Severe Parade?

What is going on here is actually pretty interesting. We have a high-pressure system that is sitting across the eastern U.S. This is forcing Gulf moisture to be pushed northward across the Plains.

We then have southward plunges of the jet stream, or troughs, pivoting out of the West into the Central Plains. Troughs like this generally bring severe weather.

Because of the high-pressure system across the East and the aforementioned troughs, severe weather may hit many of the same areas for days.

## Recap

It's been a daily pounding of severe weather so far in the Plains and Midwest, from Texas to the Great Lakes, and even parts of the Northeast.

Advertisement

There have been over 750 reports of severe weather from Monday through Thursday night, including almost 50 reports of tornadoes. The exact number of actual tornadoes is not yet clear, pending additional surveys from the National Weather Service.

Monday and Monday night, there were 19 reports of tornadoes, including sighted tornadoes n

*[Content truncated...]*

---